Contributions
1,571 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDDevolution in EnglandMy Lords, the noble Baroness makes the important point that we need to move quickly and make decisions so that we are clear about the future. I have assured the House that…22 Sept 2020HANSARDHousing: CladdingMy Lords, I have had a number of discussions with lenders, including a round table in June, to encourage them to take a more proportionate approach to risk in this regard. We…22 Sept 2020HANSARDHousing: CladdingMy Lords, the noble Lord points to the woeful culture in the construction industry. All I can say is that the pre-legislative scrutiny of the building safety Bill has started, and…22 Sept 2020HANSARDHousing: CladdingMy Lords, I agree that it is unacceptable. That is why I wrote to all owners of buildings where there is no remediation plan currently in place, to let them know that we will look…22 Sept 2020HANSARDHousing: CladdingMy Lords, clearly the pace of remediation is our utmost concern, and that has meant that some costs, including those on interim measures, have fallen on leaseholders. We continue…22 Sept 2020HANSARDHousing: CladdingMy Lords, there is no doubt that the costs of historic failure, with regard to the quality of construction, mean that the costs will exceed the £1 billion that we have…22 Sept 2020HANSARDHousing: CladdingMy Lords, at this stage we have not made a decision to move the high-risk regime beyond those buildings above 18 metres. As Dame Judith has said, it is those high-rise buildings…22 Sept 2020HANSARDDevolution in EnglandMy Lords, I do not recognise that policy paper. There was a firm commitment in the Queen’s Speech to full devolution in England but, as I said, looking to do this in a way that…22 Sept 2020HANSARDDevolution in EnglandMy Lords, this is much more than simple decentralisation. Devolution has now occurred to eight mayoral combined authorities, which we see as driving forward the economic…22 Sept 2020HANSARDDevolution in EnglandMy Lords, I am afraid that I cannot pre-empt the White Paper on that point, but there has been full consultation that will take in the lessons learned from the pandemic.22 Sept 2020HANSARDPlanningMy Lords, I will have to write to the noble Baroness about that suggestion.16 Sept 2020HANSARDPlanningMy Lords, the approach is obviously to move to a more zonal system, although there needs to be a strong design code. The design codes and pattern books draw on the historical use…16 Sept 2020HANSARDPlanningMy Lords, there is absolutely no intention to divert funding to prosperous areas from more deprived communities. I am meeting with the National Housing Federation later this week…16 Sept 2020HANSARDPlanningMy Lords, I can assure my noble friend that local authorities will be essential in the process. They will continue to prepare the local plans and councils will have better,…16 Sept 2020HANSARDPlanningMy Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Best, is an absolute expert in social housing. I recognise that there is a proposed change and I encourage him to communicate with the consultation,…16 Sept 2020HANSARDPlanningMy Lords, my noble friend is, of course, a great champion for the importance of sport and recreation. I can give him those assurances. The National Planning Policy Framework…16 Sept 2020HANSARDPlanningMy Lords, I can assure the House that we will consider the needs of all residents, including the vulnerable and the disabled, in ensuring that we have the high-quality design and…16 Sept 2020HANSARDPlanningMy Lords, there is a strong case for reform of a system that was first put into place some seven decades ago with the Town and Country Planning Act 1947. The focus is on ensuring…16 Sept 2020HANSARDPlanningMy Lords, our proposal for a reformed planning system is centred on encouraging more beautiful development in places, improving the quality of housing and green spaces, and…16 Sept 2020HANSARDPlanningMy Lords, I am aware of the campaign for retrofitting, and it often has a place instead of demolition and rebuild. I will look at the campaign and make sure that is fed into our…16 Sept 2020